The wind travels and massages the surface of water, and the river makes an impression on the riverbed, affecting its current, and washing away debris. As this process unfolds, not only is dirt and mud washed away, new life is courses through the river, it opens up and expands, flowing freely. This increased flow of water is even used to supply cities, oceans, and life everywhere. Constant activity is needed to continue and develop this process, and there is a correspondence with what happens in nature and what happens inside us. For example, just as the river washes away dirt, our bodies rid us of noxious particles and toxins.
Our breathing has an impact upon our internal materials and structures, and no growth is possible in its absence. The outer elements, such as wind and water, represent our inner elements (air and blood for example). You can utilise these forces and work to increase their efficiency to the benefit of your system, to become a force of nature. For example, the river, in this case our blood vessels, ‘massages’ the earth, in this case our muscles and organs. This occurs when our breathing exapnds the blood vessells as we move around. In addition, blood flow not only oxygenates our blood to send to the organs, but also sends waste products back to be breathed back out. Just as the wind clears debris from the river and assists with its current, our own breathing corresponds to this process.
What powers this wind? It is none other than our high ideal1, and our unremitting work an effort towards attaining the impossible. In chasing our dreams and ideals, we set in motion forces that would otherwise lay dormant with ordinary goals. This invisible force of the mind, symbolised by the air, acts upon our internal flow of water symbolically represented by the blood and unremitting motion. And it is through this interaction of different elements that, the air and water, that a transference of energy takes place. As this illustration shows, the nature of air and water is present at each layer of this interaction, taking different form as it materialises.
Viewed this way, our physical exercises take a very different form to what we usually consider it as. We no longer just move around mindlessly if we want to treat this process seriously. By working on our breathing, this force makes its way through the various layers of the our being (air, water, and then earth) and in this way ideas of the mind, which are formless, are transformed on contact as they gradually materialise. This is how an idea becomes physical reality, taking a different form at each layer of manifestation, each layer being both separate and interrelated. The nature of air is present at each layers of this process, whether it is working on the physical body, or supplying thought. And the nature of water too is present at each phase of manifestation, whether that is letting our ideas flow or the blood. We must let the water to flow freely.
The effect of air on water changes the riverbeds structure, that is to say our own physical body, shaping and moulding it. Air nourishes water, supplying it with energy and nutrients, and water acts upon the earth to give it form. For example, our breathing has an impact on our blood vessels, by providing them with oxygen which then stimulates the muscle tissues, resulting in activity. This creates movement, and through willpower5 directed and related to our goals we have action. Will Power can take many forms and can include devotion to a variety of activities, which often are in conflict, such as combat and morality. I will demonstrate here that these two worthy goals, along with others, are not mutually exclusive, and in fact must marry in order to reinforce and sustain each others development.
Thus, breathing (air) makes contact with the water (blood) through the intermediary of its container, the blood vessels. This separation of the two elemental forces is important. If there were no separation, we would not be able to channel air to act upon our water, represented by the blood, and we would have no way of transferring energy into physical acts. Activity of the muscles provides movement to the system, and this gives physical expression to our ideas and desires.
If you understand me correctly, you will see that it is necessary to give conscious consideration to developing both the invisible and visible reality, which form part of a whole. It is not sufficient to mindlessly go about training, anymore than it is to live exclusively in ideas without action. Ideas must be put into action, and action gives material reality to ideas, and this forms the centre of our existence where we must aim to remain. Once again, action can take many forms, such as breathing, concentration, powerful movements, or even mental focus. What is respiration if not the successful transformation of powerful ideas into productive activity of one kind or another? The problem is many people believe breathing is simply an automatic function which entirely takes care of itself.
To look at at this matter differently, the sun warms the earth through its rays, and these rays act like rivers, flowing out into space making contact with planets. This is the effect our high ideal has on our activity, it invigorates and motivates us, where we would otherwise risk becoming cold and lifeless. These rays, from the sun, are similar to blood vessels, but instead of warming the heart, they invigorate and bring about life to the earth and its atmosphere.
Similar to how the sun warms the earth, our solar plexus and lungs breath life into our organism. This is why the teaching of Buddhism, Yoga, and Tai Chi, all speak of a ‘prana’, life force’, or ‘chi’, which circulate the environment and are developed through breathing exercises and meditation. This is why the Hara region and the Solar plexus, as well as all the other aspects of the nervous system, meridians and chakras, are called the ‘centre’. Physically speaking that’s what they are, however the mind is brought into alignment with these energies by creative use of the imagination, which is why symbols and imagery are useful.
And the more sun there is, represented by our high ideal, the greater the psychic energy for renewal and growth. And although impossible to attain, our high ideal is represented by the driving force of invigoration that the sun symbolises. The spiritual teachings show us that the sun represents the spirit, and the earth represents the soul. In this way, our breathing activity can enhance our soul, our rhythms and inner patterns which, through the intermediary of the organs and tissues which form the outer shell of our physical body. This outer shell, or layering, is important. For example, the lungs filter out carbon dioxide so that oxygen in the air can be diffused into the blood, just like when the atmosphere filters out certain aspects of the suns rays which would otherwise damage the planet. Through this activity the earth is warmed, instead of burnt and destroyed.
With all this in mind, when you engage in breathing activity2, do so with the conviction in mind that you are engaging the most potent of exercises, rather than just to relax or sit still. When you are following the breath, from the hara centre3 right up to the top of the lungs and back, you are engaging in inner work of the greatest importance. By focusing on the hara centre, and the energy it can transfer throughout the body, you will notice how the breathing travels though the pathway around the spinal column via activity of the solar plexus. From this central position, the highest ideals (top of the mountain) begin to gradually condense and filter down from the imperceptible matter to material form. Or, if you like from air, to water, to earth. This is the same as saying you start with a thought (idea), which then inspires feeling (the hara energy), and then action takes place6.
The solar plexus is a nerve centre which transfers energy across the entire body, and one way to enhance this process is to place the right hand over the solar plexus, and the back of the left hand over the spine. Another way is to place a bolster on the floor and sit on the floor at the long end of the bolster. You then lean back onto the bolster which causes a curvature of the spin opening out the chest to enhance breathing. This method is common to Yoga Practice. Yet another way is to jump into the cold sea, which causes deep breathing to warm the system up.
To others it might look like you are sitting there wasting time, but through effort and focus you are undertaking work that will gradually shape your inner materials. These inner materials, can impact upon our thoughts and feelings, shaping our perceptions of reality. For example, if it is strength you want, picture yourself overcoming adversaries, showing determination and resilience in the face of difficulty. Gradually, these qualities will take on a presence of their own within you, and as you associate yourself with them, your behaviour will bring them to life, in and out of training. Often it is better to practice in this way, using the imagnination4, to sit and be alone with a problem and solve it through focused attention to breathing and meditation.
Various spiritual philosophies tell us that the states created by such practices as meditation and breathing can be synthesised into a ‘Body’. They call this the astral body, which is associated with the feelings and states created by our thoughts. Thought cannot act on the body directly, instead it works though the intermediary of feeling, which then begin to take on an existence of their own more physically. This body is felt, and experienced with the inner eyes rather than physically observed. Of course the representations of the physical world also act upon this body through our physical eyes, but it is not necessary to go into all that now. Anyway, I don’t even know what the astral body really is, but I’ve felt its presence and sensed its existence. All that needs to be said is, this is how the formless styles of martial arts practice later manifest in forms – The thoughts acting through feelings. This is why, for me, it is important not to separate everything out into so called inner and out martial arts as if they were not all a piece. Why not see them as a synthesis, and combine them into one?
In other words, by breathing and working on the energies of the chakras, one practices fashioning a formless Martial art into a physical manifestation. According to this view, a disciple begins to break out of the narrow and limited ways of the past, because he recognises he must grow in every domain. He must take responsibility for his thoughts and actions, this is mindfulness. He must meditate and develop self control and command his inner life, this is the Spirit of Martial Arts practice. He must train physically according to this understanding, which is summarised in such practices as tai chi and Yoga styles of training. Having trained his nervous system and bodily processes for health, he also practice a kind of gymnastics style of martial arts, building strength and will power, such as boxing and other ‘hard’ styles. Accordingly, you don’t have to reject any of of the approaches to martial arts, you can use them to fulfil your requirements in every way.
References
1 The High Ideal https://intuitivemartialarts.com/2020/07/26/the-high-ideal/
2 Movement and Breathing https://intuitivemartialarts.com/2020/04/17/movement-and-breathing/
3 The Hara Centre https://intuitivemartialarts.com/2020/10/25/the-hara-centre/
4 The Imagination https://intuitivemartialarts.com/2020/10/04/the-imagination/
5 Will Power https://intuitivemartialarts.com/2020/05/10/will-power/
6 Training is its own reward https://intuitivemartialarts.com/2021/01/17/training-is-its-own-reward/
2 thoughts on “The marriage of the inner and outer forms.”